E I Skargren1, P G Carlsson, B E Oberg. 1. Department of Neuroscience and Locomotion: Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Sweden.
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN: A randomized trial was conducted in which patients with back and neck pain, visiting a general practitioner, were allocated to chiropractic or physiotherapy. OBJECTIVES: To compare outcome and costs of chiropractic and physiotherapy as primary treatment for patients with back and neck pain, with special reference to subgroups, recurrence rate, and additional health care use at follow-up evaluation 12 months after treatment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Earlier studies on the effect of spinal manipulation have shown inconsistent results. Mostly they include only short-term follow-up periods, and few cost-effectiveness analyses have been made. METHODS: A group of 323 patients aged 18-60 years who had no contraindications to manipulation and who had not been treated within the previous month were included. Outcome measures were changes in Oswestry scores, pain intensity, and general health; recurrence rate; and direct and indirect costs. RESULTS: No differences were detected in health improvement, costs, or recurrence rate between the two groups. According to Oswestry score, chiropractic was more favorable for patients with a current pain episode of less than 1 week (5%) and physiotherapy for patients with a current pain episode of greater than 1 month (6.8%). Nearly 60% of the patients reported two or more recurrences. More patients in the chiropractic group (59%) than in the physiotherapy group (41%) sought additional health care. Costs varied considerably among individuals and subgroups; the direct costs were lower for physiotherapy in a few subgroups. CONCLUSIONS:Effectiveness and costs of chiropractic or physiotherapy as primary treatment were similar for the total population, but some differences were seen according to subgroups. Back problems often recurred, and additional health care was common. Implications of the result are that treatment policy and clinical decision models must consider subgroups and that the problem often is recurrent. Models must be implemented and tested.
RCT Entities:
STUDY DESIGN: A randomized trial was conducted in which patients with back and neck pain, visiting a general practitioner, were allocated to chiropractic or physiotherapy. OBJECTIVES: To compare outcome and costs of chiropractic and physiotherapy as primary treatment for patients with back and neck pain, with special reference to subgroups, recurrence rate, and additional health care use at follow-up evaluation 12 months after treatment. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Earlier studies on the effect of spinal manipulation have shown inconsistent results. Mostly they include only short-term follow-up periods, and few cost-effectiveness analyses have been made. METHODS: A group of 323 patients aged 18-60 years who had no contraindications to manipulation and who had not been treated within the previous month were included. Outcome measures were changes in Oswestry scores, pain intensity, and general health; recurrence rate; and direct and indirect costs. RESULTS: No differences were detected in health improvement, costs, or recurrence rate between the two groups. According to Oswestry score, chiropractic was more favorable for patients with a current pain episode of less than 1 week (5%) and physiotherapy for patients with a current pain episode of greater than 1 month (6.8%). Nearly 60% of the patients reported two or more recurrences. More patients in the chiropractic group (59%) than in the physiotherapy group (41%) sought additional health care. Costs varied considerably among individuals and subgroups; the direct costs were lower for physiotherapy in a few subgroups. CONCLUSIONS: Effectiveness and costs of chiropractic or physiotherapy as primary treatment were similar for the total population, but some differences were seen according to subgroups. Back problems often recurred, and additional health care was common. Implications of the result are that treatment policy and clinical decision models must consider subgroups and that the problem often is recurrent. Models must be implemented and tested.
Authors: Ingeborg B C Korthals-de Bos; Jan L Hoving; Maurits W van Tulder; Maureen P M H Rutten-van Mölken; Herman J Adèr; Henrica C W de Vet; Bart W Koes; Hindrik Vondeling; Lex M Bouter Journal: BMJ Date: 2003-04-26
Authors: Neil M Paige; Isomi M Miake-Lye; Marika Suttorp Booth; Jessica M Beroes; Aram S Mardian; Paul Dougherty; Richard Branson; Baron Tang; Sally C Morton; Paul G Shekelle Journal: JAMA Date: 2017-04-11 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Anita Gross; Theresa M Kay; Jean-Philippe Paquin; Samuel Blanchette; Patrick Lalonde; Trevor Christie; Genevieve Dupont; Nadine Graham; Stephen J Burnie; Geoff Gelley; Charles H Goldsmith; Mario Forget; Jan L Hoving; Gert Brønfort; Pasqualina L Santaguida Journal: Cochrane Database Syst Rev Date: 2015-01-28